September 13th, 2016

Construction of the newest development on the city’s waterfront began this week: a 22-story tower in Harbor East to be called Liberty Harbor East.

The $170 million development is located at 711 S. Central Ave., which for years has been a surface parking lot.

The ground floor of Liberty Harbor East will hold a 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods market and 3,500-square feet of retail. Atop that, 282 apartments and 35 condominiums are planned.

The neighborhood’s current 13,500-square foot Whole Foods will close when the new location for the upscale grocer opens.

Harbor East Management Group, the real estate arm of H&S Bakery owner John Paterakis Sr. and his family, has developed Harbor East over the past two decades after former Mayor William Donald Schaefer lobbied the bakery magnate to purchase and develop the property.